Hydraulic brake and cooling means for hoisting drums



Apri124, 1934. 1,956,188

HYDRAULIC BRAKE AND COOLING MEANS FOR HOISTING DRUMS L. J. BLACK 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18,

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April 24, 1934. L. J. BLACK 1,956,188

iLYDRAULIC BRAKE AND COOLING MEANS FOR 'HOIST'ING DRLWS Filed Nov. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

L.JBlacl( Patented Apr; 24, 1934 NIT D STATES nrnaauuo BRAKE AND COOLING MEANS FOR HOISTING DRUMS Lee J. Black, Beaumont, Tex. Application November 18, 1933, Serial No. 698,718

16 Claims. (01.188-264) This invention relates to hoisting drums and particularly hoisting drums used in-the drilling of wells for oil and gas.

The depth of drilled wells is constantly increasing, calling for heavier equipment which must, however, be compact, easy to -install because of the limited space in the derrick and the short duration of the set up. As a consequence of the increasing depth of the wells, it has been increasingly difficult to manually control the braking action on the drums and the increasing length of the drill stem and the increasing load of pipe has reached a point where strictly manually operated brakes have about reached their capacity.

flanges of these drums shall be kept cool as the heat generated by the application of the brakes is very high. With these diillculties in mind, the present invention has for its object providing manual braking means for the drum and providing in addition to the manual braking means a cooling system for cooling brake flanges,

and means acting in conjunction .with the cool-1..

-nated 1'7 and the other 18, the sprocket wheel 17 S0 being larger in diameter than the sprocket wheel ing system for furnishing fluid pressure to provide a hydraulically operated braking means.

A further object is to provide in a structure of this character, a hollow brake drum' or flange, and provide an impeller disposed within the hollow brake flange and provide means whereby when the drum is rotating in one direction to cause the impeller to rotate with the drum and with the shaft upon which the drum is mounted and provide means whereby when the winding drum is rotating in an opposite direction, as for instance, when unreeling or unwinding the cable which lowers the load of pipe and the drill stem into the well, the drum will operate in a reverse direction to the movement of the im- 40 peller causing a positive circulation of water or other cooling liquid through the brake flanges of the drum itself and acting to exert a hydraulic braking action upon the drum and flanges, this hydraulic braking action acting in conjunction with the hand brake to resist the rotation of the drum and another object in this connection is to provide means acting to automatically admit water or other liquid to the circulating system of the drum flanges when the manual brake is applied and to cut off this flow of water or other liquid when the manually operable brake is released. I

Other objects will appear in the courseof the following description.

It is also a necessity of practice that the brake My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- p

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a windin drum such as is used in well drilling, this drum having applied thereto my combined hand and hydraulically operated brake mechanism;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the drum flange;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the impeller;

Referring to these drawings, 10 designates the drum shaft and 11 the body of the drum mounted upon the'shaft for full rotation therewith. The drum body is provided at its opposite ends with the outwardly projecting flanges 12. A sleeve 13 surrounds the drum body between these flanges 12. The interior of the drum body 11 is cored out as at 14. Surrounding each end of the shaft Ioutward of the respective flanges 12 is a sleeve 15 which forms the extended hub of an impeller, the blades of which are designated 16, this impeller being shown in Figure 3. Keyed upon each impeller hub 15 is a sprocket wheel. These sprocket wheels are of diiferent diameters for the purpose of driving the drum at different speeds and one of these sprocket wheels is desig- 18. Keyed upon the shaft 10 for rotation therewith but for longitudinal movement with reference thereto are the two clutches 19 and 20, the clutch 19 coacting with the hub of the sprocket wheel 17 and the clutch 20 coacting with the hub of the sprocket wheel 18. Thus when the clutch element 19 is engaged with the sprocket-wheel 1'7,- the shaft 10 will rotate at one speed as will the impeller 16 and when the clutch 20 isengaged with the sprocket wheel 18, the shaft will rotate at another speed as will the corresponding impeller 16. When both clutches 19 and 20 are disengaged, however, the shaft 10 will rotate freely in a reverse direction to the direction of movement'of the sprocket wheels 1'7 and 18 and under these circumstances, of course, the impellers 16 being connected with the power driven sprocket wheels 17 and 18 will rotate in a reverse direction. Mounted opposite each drum flange 12 is a brake flange designated generally 21. This brake flange is angular in cross section as shown in Figure 1 so as to provide a peripheral web 22 and an end web 23, this end web 23 being parallel to and confronting the drum flange 12. Bolts 24 pass through the peripheral web 22 into the drum flange 12 to thus hold the brake flange against the drum flange. The periphery of the brake flange is-reduced in diameter to provide aseat for the brake band 25, there being, of course, a brake band for each brake flange. The inner portion of each web 23 is formed with an outstanding annular flange 26 formed to provide a packing recess ,between the impeller hub 15 and the flange 26 within which is disposed the packing 27. A packing gland 28 surrounds the hub 15 and bears against this packing 27 and is held in place by screws 29 or other suitable means as shown in Figure 1. Between the ends of the drum body 11 and the confronting ends of the hubs 15 packing 30 is disposed. H

It, will be seen that the blades of each impeller 16 are disposed within a chamber designated generally 31. It will likewise be seen from Figure 3 that these impeller blades are curved in the direction of rotation of the sprocket wheels 17 and 18. The confronting or outside face of each plate flange 12 as shown in Figure 2 is also formed with a series of curved ribs 32 extending outward from an annular rib 33, each brake flange adjacent its periphery being also formed with an annular rib 34 through which the holes for the bolts-'24 pass. This annular rib 34 extends into an annular recess in the brake flange 22.

One end of the shaft 10 as shown in Figure l is formed with a bore 35 which swivelly is connected to a water inter inlet pipe 36. The opposite end "ofthe shaft is formed with an outlet bore 37 swivelly connected to an outlet pipe 38. The swiveled connections may be of any suitable form but, as illustrated, each pipe 36 or 38 is provided on its inner end with a head 39. The end of'the shaft is recessed to receive this head and screwthreaded to receive a nut 40 which bears against the head. This nut is formed to provide a packing space for a packing 41 held in place by a gland 42. It will thus be seen that the shaft 10' may' rotate freely with relation to the pipes 36 and 38. The inlet bore 35 at its inner'; end is-connected to a radially extending passage '43 which is flared at its outer end to the surface of the shaft 10. The drum is formed with a corresponding radial passage 44. Disposed within the passage 44 is a pipe section 45 closed at its outer end and having screw-threaded en'- gagement with the drum.

Disposed with its headed end within the flared end' of the opening 43 is a pipe section 46 and packing 47 is disposed between the headed end of the pipe section 46 and the adjacent end of the pipe section 45. These telescopic pipe sections 45. and 46 have apertures 48 which discharge into a chamber 49. An aperture 50 leads from the chamber 49 out through the wall of the flange 12 and discharges into the impeller chamber 31.

Diametrically opposite the opening 50, the end wall of the drum 11 is formed with a relatively deep recess 51. The opposite end wall of the drum is also formed with a corresponding recess 51. Extending between these recesses 51 in the opposite end of the drum is'a pipe 52 which connects these two 'recessea'this pipe being held in place by the packing glands 53 which bear against the, packing 54. Thus communication is estab-v lished between the impeller chamber of one brake flange and the impeller chamber of the opposite brake flange. The right hand impeller chamber in Figure l is also connected to the outlet bore 37 by the telescopic pipes 45 and 46 as was previously described.

It will be seen that the pipes 45 constitute glands bearing against the packing 47 and in order to provide for access to these glands so as to remove them and renew the packing, the sleeve 13 is provided with openings immediately in alinement with the headed ends of the glands or pipes 45 which openings are normally closed by the plugs 55.

The brake bands 25 are operated by any suitable means. I have shown for this purpose, however, a rock shaft 56 which is connected to the brake bands in the usual manner, common in this type of apparatus. This brake shaft carries the brake handle 57 whereby the brakes may be manually applied. It is also designed that when the brakes 25 are applied by means of the handle 57, water shall be allowed to flow into the pipe 36 from a supply pipe 58 and that when the brake bands are released, the water shall be cut off from the pipe 36 and allowed to flow through a waste pipe 59. To this end I have provided a threeway valve designated 60 and shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, this valve having on it the arm 61 connected by a link 62 to an arm 63 on the brake shaft 56.

From the construction shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that when the handle 57 is turned to rotate the shaft 56 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, the arm 61 will be moved to cause the three-way valve to connect the pipes 58 and 36 and that as the shaft 56 is rocked in a reverse direction, the arm 61 will be pulled downward in Figure 1, thus cutting off the supply of liquid to the pipe 36 and directing it out through the pipe 59.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows:

The clutches 1'1 or 18 are thrown in when it is desired to wind up the cable on the drum and lift the drill string and pipe from the well but when it is desired to lower the pipe and drill string into the well, both clutches are released and the weight of the drill string or pipe, that is, the weight of the load on the cable, acts to rotate the drinn reversely, the drum being prevented from too'rapid rotation by theapplication of the hand brake 25 and by theresistance offered by the impellers which are rotating at this time in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3 and in a reverse direction to the direction of rotation of the drum. At this time, when both clutches are thrown out and the drum is unwinding, the unwinding movement is obstructed, as before stated, by the brake bands 25 and liquid flows into the pipe 39 through bore 35 through the passage 43 to theport 50 around the left hand brake flange or left hand impeller chamber, then through the cross pipe 52 of the right hand impeller chamber, then out through the port 50 thereof through the pipes 45 and 46 thereof into the bore 37 and out through the pipe 38. This liquid cools the brake flanges which would otherwise become overheated by the application of the brake bands and the rotation of the impellers in the opposite direction to the rotation of the drum causes a hydraulic braking action which assists the brake bands in retarding the downward movement of the drum. The greater the application of the brake bands, the greater the flow of liquid through the drum, the greater its cooling action and the more does it obstruct the rotation of the drum throughthe action of the impeller blades. It will be understood now a that the impeller blades rotate at all times with the sprockets 17 and 18. When one or the other of the clutches 18 or 19 is thrown in to cause a rotation of the drum in a direction to wind up the cable, the impellers then move with the drum and with the brake flanges, thus oflering no impediment to ingonewall ofthe impeller chamber and the ietati iior the drum and the liquid that with n-thedmpeller chambers 31, of course, rotatesxwith the drum and with the impellers in the same direction. It is only when the drum is unwinding and the clutches 19 and 20 are thrown out that :the impellers then positively rofate in the direction reverse to that of the drum and act to-hydraulically brake the drum and .causea positivecirculation of the liquid through the brakeflanges from the pipe 36 to the pipe 38. I'heconstruction which I have illustrated is ,i particularly simple and is very readily assembled. .It be noticed that the hollow brake flange designated generally 21 bolts on to the flange 12 of the main drum, the hollow brake flangeformmain brake flange forming the opposite wall of the chamber. This enables the ready assembly of the impellerwithin the brake flange. In this way, it is a simple matter to renew the packing and "prevent leakage. This is done by unbolting .the brake flange 21 from the drum flange l2.

Thisuncovers the interior packing between the runner hub and the hub of the main drum flange.

By the removal of the sprocket, it is an easy matter to repack around the extended hub of the runner.

While I have heretofore referred to the impellers as rotating continuously and the sprocket wheels as rotating continuously, it is to be understood that even though the sprocket wheels and impellers are not rotating, yet if the drum be allowed to, run free under the unwinding action of the cable, there will be relative rotation between the drum. and the impellers, the impellers standing still and the drum rotating and this will cause a circulation of water or other cooling liquid through the brake flanges of the drum-and actvto produce a. hydraulic braking action between the drum and the impeller. It will thus be seen that the braking action would be had, regardless of whether the impellers were rotating or not.

While I have illustrated the blades of the impellers as being curved and the confronting ribs on the brake flanges as being curved, it is not necessary to curve the impeller blades nor the ribs in order to produce a braking action. If both were. straight, however, clearance would have to be greater between the edges of the impeller blades and theribs in order to allow .the fluid to pass. The curved blades will allow the fluid to pass continuously at some point in the curve when the drum is running in reverse direction to the impellers. While this would produce less braking action, it would, however, also produce less vibration.

1. A winding drum having a brake portion enclosing a space for cooling liquid, a bladed impeller disposed within the space, power operated means for rotating the drum and the impeller together in the same direction, and means for releasing the drum from the power operated means to permit it to rotate in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the impeller whereby to cause the impeller to act as a hydraulic brake on the drum.

2. A winding drum having a brake portion enclosing a space for liquid, a bladed impeller disposed within the space, power operated means connected with the impeller for rotating it constantly in one direction, manually controlled means for operatively connecting the drum to the impeller and the power operated means for 7 drum.

common rotation therewith in one direction or releasing the drum to permit it to rotate in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the power operated means and impeller to thereby cause the impeller to act as a brake on the 3. In a draw works,a shaft, a drum mounted for rotation with the shaft and having a brake flange formed to provide a space for cooling liquid, an impeller mounted uponsaid shaft for rotation independently thereof and having blades disposedwithin said space, power operated I .means for rotating said impeller, a clutch means mounted upon the shaft for engaging the shaft with the power operated means or disengaging it therefrom.

4. In a draw works, a shaft, a drum mounted upon the shaft and having a brake portion enclosing a chamber for cooling liquid, a hand operated brake operatively engaging said brake portion of the drum, an impeller mounted upon the shaft for free rotation with relation thereto and having blades extending into the chamber, power operated means for rotating the impeller in one direction, and a clutch mechanism for connecting the shaft to or disconnecting it from said power operated means.

5. In a draw works, the combination with a winding drum having a brake flange, and a manually operable brake for controlling the unwinding movement of the drum, power operated means for rotating the drum, clutch means for connecting the power operated means to the drum 'or disconnecting it therefrom, and a hydraulic brake automatically operated to resist the rotation of the drum when the drum is disconnected from the power operated means and is rotating in a direction opposite thereto.

6. In a draw works, a shaft, a winding drum mounted thereon and having a brake flange, the brake flange enclosing a chamber extending concentrically to the shaft, the shaft having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet operatively connected to said chamber to discharge cooling liquid thereinto and take cooling liquid therefrom, an impeller having blades disposed within the chamber, driving means for the impeller, means for clutching the driving means to the shaft to cause the drum and impeller to rotate in the same direction and for unclutching the shaft to permit the shaft and drum to rotate in an opposite direction to the direction of movement of the impeller and driving means, and manually operable braking means engaging the periphery of the brake flange.

7. In a draw works, a drum shaft, a drum mounted upon the shaft for rotation therewith and having a brake flange, hand braking mechanism engaging the brake flange, the brake flange being formed to provide a fluid chamber concentric to the shaft, a rotor disposed within the fluid chamber, means for rotating the drum and rotor together, or disconnecting the drum from the rotor, and fluid circulating system supplying cooling fluid to the interior of the chamber whereby to secure a braking action by the rotor on the drum when the drum is operated separate from the rotor. u

8. In a draw works, a hoisting drum having a brake flange, the flange enclosing a fluid chamber, means for circulating fluid through the fluid 7 whereby .to cause the rotor: to act as a hydraulic brake on, the drum.

.;9. In a draw works pa shaft body mounted thereon. having .an outwardly extending annular,v flange, a.brake flange forming part of the drum and abutted against the flrstlnamed flange and attached thereto, the drum flange,- bodyof the-drum and thebrake flange defining achamber for cooling liquid, means .for circulatingcooling, liquid through said chamber, an impeller having blades disposed within said chamber, a gear wheel operatively engagedrwith said impellerv to rotateit, means-for connecting: the drum to the gear wheel or disconnecting it therefrom, and hand braking means applied to-the periphery of the braking flange.

10. In a draw works, a shaft, a drum body mounted upon the shaft and having. an outwardly projecting annular flange, a brake flange detachably engag'ed with the drum flange, the brake flange, the drum flange and the end of the body defining an annular cooling chamber concentric to said shaft, an impeller having a hubloosely surrounding the shaft and extending through the end wall of the brake flange, the impeller having blades disposed within the chamber, a power actuated element engaged with the hubof the impeller for common rotation, clutch means for engaging said element with the shaft or disengaging it therefrom, hand qperated braking mechanism applied to the exterior of the brake flange,

and means for causing a circulating of cooling liquid through said chamber. I v

11. In a draw works, a shaft, a drum body mounted upon the shaft and having an outwardly projecting annular flange, a brake flange detachably engaged with the drumflange, the brake flange, the drum flange and the end of the body defining an annular cooling chamber concentric to said shaft, an impeller having a hub loosely surrounding the shaft and extending through the end wall of the brake flange, the impeller having blades disposed within the chamber, the end face ofjthe' drum flange being formed with ribs extending toward the periphery of the drum flange, a power actuated element engaged with the hub of the impeller for common rotation, clutch means for engaging said element with the shaft or disengaging it therefrom, hand operated braking mechanism applied to the exterior of the brake flange, and means for causing a circulation of cooling liquid through said chamber.

12. In a draw works, a shaft having a liquid inlet bore at one end and a liquid outlet bore at the opposite end, a 'drum mounted upon the shaft and having two drum flanges, the drum and flanges being formed to provide two chambers exe tending concentrically to the shaft, means for communicatively connecting the inlet bore of the shaft with one of said chambers, connecting the outlet bore of the shaft with the other of said chambers and connecting the chambers with each other, impellers mounted in each chamber, each ing means applied to the brake flanges.-

connecting each of said'driving means to the shaft or disconnectingit therefrom whereby the shaft, the impeller and the drum may be driven in one direction orthe drum permitted to rotate in adir'ection reverse to the direction of movementof the impellers, =and'hand operated brak- 13.-'In ardraw works, a shaft, a'winding'drum mounted'upon the shaft, the winding drum being formed to provide brake flanges enclosing cooling chambers, hand braking mechanism applied to the periphery of saidbrake'flanges, means controlled by said hand braking mechanism for causing a circulation of liquid through one end of the shaft successively through the chambers and out through the other end of the-shaft, impellersmounted within each chamber and having hubs extendingconcentrically to theshaft out through said chambers, independent driving the drum but terminating short of the shaft, the brake flange and drum flange together enclosing an annular chamber concentric to the shaft, an impeller having a hub surrounding the shaft and extending outward between the shaft and the end of said web and having blades disposed within the chamber, packing between said web and the hub, a packing gland'engaging said packing and disposed exteriorly of the web, a drive wheel engaged with the hub of the impeller to rotate it in a constantdirection, aclutch on the shaft and adapted to connect the shaft with the drive wheel or disconnect it therefrom, and means for causing a circulation of liquid through said chamber. 7 15; A winding drum having a brake portion enclosing a space for cooling liquid, a bladed impeller disposed within the space, power operated 125 means for rotating the drum and the impeller together in the same direction, and means for releasing the drum from. the power operated means to permit it to rotate relative to the impellerwhereby to cause the impeller to act as a hydraulic brake.

16. A. winding drum having a brake portion enclosing a space for cooling liquid, a bladed impeller disposed within the space, means for rotating the drum and the impeller together in the 35 same direction, and means for releasing the drum from the power operated means to permit it to rotate freely relative to the impeller whereby to cause the impeller tolact as a hydraulic brake for the drum.

' LEE J. BLACK. 

